NBA

3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 11/16/17

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James Harden, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

DraftKings Salary: $12,700

James Harden's price is beginning to get a little out of control. At this point, he needs 63.5 DraftKings points to justify paying up for him. Is that doable in a huge pace-up game against the Phoenix Suns? Absolutely.

The dude has two games of 80-plus DraftKings points in his past five. The Suns have played at the league's second-fastest pace and rank 27th in defensive efficiency. Harden is one of the league's best transition scorers, and an up-tempo game will provide him with more opportunities to rack up assists. The Houston Rockets have a 120-point implied team total that is easily the highest on the slate. If you were to script a Harden eruption spot, this is as good as it gets.

With that being said, there could also be merit to a Harden fade in tournament lineups. Chris Paul will be back in limited fashion, and Houston is favored by 11 points. If this one turns into a blowout, it will be very tough for Harden to reach value, and that is a lot of salary to leave on the table. There are a surprising number of strong mid-range plays for a two-game slate, too, so a balanced approach may be your best option on this slate.

Ultimately, you are going to need some Harden exposure if making multiple lineups. The spot is too good for a complete fade on a small slate because if he goes off for another 80-spot and you don't have him, you have zero chance of winning a tournament. Just don't ignore the risk that comes with rostering such an expensive player in a game with blowout potential.